News Pictures of The Week - March 4

News Pictures of The Week - March 4

The Vatican Prepares For The Departure This Week Of Pope Benedict XVI

Peter Macdiarmid

A child sits under The Colonnade on February 26, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff will hold his last weekly public audience on February 27, 2013 before he retires the following day. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements

A child sits under The Colonnade on February 26, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff will hold his last weekly public audience on February 27, 2013 before he retires the following day. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements

PAKISTAN-UNREST-KARACHI

ASIF HASSAN

People gather on the site of bomb blast in Karachi on March 3, 2013. A bomb attack in Pakistan's largest city Karachi on Sunday killed at least 23 people, including women and children, and wounded 50 others, police said. AFP PHOTO/ASIF HASSAN

People gather on the site of bomb blast in Karachi on March 3, 2013. A bomb attack in Pakistan's largest city Karachi on Sunday killed at least 23 people, including women and children, and wounded 50 others, police said. AFP PHOTO/ASIF HASSAN

PAKISTAN-UNREST-KARACHI

RIZWAN TABASSUM

People and Pakistani rescuers work on the site of the bomb blast in Karachi on March 3, 2013. A bomb attack in Pakistan's largest city Karachi on Sunday killed at least 23 people, including women and children, and wounded 50 others, police said. AFP PHOTO/Rizwan TABASSUM

People and Pakistani rescuers work on the site of the bomb blast in Karachi on March 3, 2013. A bomb attack in Pakistan's largest city Karachi on Sunday killed at least 23 people, including women and children, and wounded 50 others, police said. AFP PHOTO/Rizwan TABASSUM

Blizzard Hits Northern Japan, Eight People Died

The Asahi Shimbun

Derailed Komachi 25, Akita Shinkansen bullet train is seen in the snow on March 2, 2013 in Omagari, Akita, Japan. Passengers were stuck for six hours in the coaches. Eight people died in the accidents related to the heavy snow over the weekend.

Derailed Komachi 25, Akita Shinkansen bullet train is seen in the snow on March 2, 2013 in Omagari, Akita, Japan. Passengers were stuck for six hours in the coaches. Eight people died in the accidents related to the heavy snow over the weekend.

Major Gun Rights Rally Held In Salt Lake City

George Frey

Darci Lund carries an AR-15 at a gun rights rally and march at the Utah State Capitol on March 2, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The rally attracted several hundred people for the march to the Utah Capitol in favor of 2nd Amendment rights as gun control supporters call for more limits and bans on assault weapons.

Darci Lund carries an AR-15 at a gun rights rally and march at the Utah State Capitol on March 2, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The rally attracted several hundred people for the march to the Utah Capitol in favor of 2nd Amendment rights as gun control supporters call for more limits and bans on assault weapons.

Mekong River Murderers Executed By Lethal Injection

ChinaFotoPress

Myanmar drug lord Naw Kham is taken to be executed by lethal injection on March 1, 2013 in Kunming, China. China executed Naw Kham (44) and three of his accomplices, all of whom were convicted of murdering thirteen Chinese sailors on the Mekong River in Kunming, 2011.

Myanmar drug lord Naw Kham is taken to be executed by lethal injection on March 1, 2013 in Kunming, China. China executed Naw Kham (44) and three of his accomplices, all of whom were convicted of murdering thirteen Chinese sailors on the Mekong River in Kunming, 2011.

General Images Of Retail As Japan Releases CPI Figures

Bloomberg

Pedestrians walking on the street are reflected in patterned mirrored glass on the facade of a mall in the shopping district of Omotesando in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, March 1, 2013. Japan’s consumer prices fell for the eighth time in nine months, highlighting the challenges facing the Bank of Japan in reaching a 2 percent inflation target. Photographer: Noriko Hayashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Pedestrians walking on the street are reflected in patterned mirrored glass on the facade of a mall in the shopping district of Omotesando in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, March 1, 2013. Japan’s consumer prices fell for the eighth time in nine months, highlighting the challenges facing the Bank of Japan in reaching a 2 percent inflation target. Photographer: Noriko Hayashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Pope Benedict XVI Steps Down And Officially Retires From The Papal Office

Peter Macdiarmid

A girl stands with a candle in St Peter's Square as prayers are said for Pope Benedict XVI in the moments before he ceased to be Pontiff at 20:00 CET on February 28, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He will stay at the Papal Summer residence of Castel Gandolfo until renovations are complete at a monastery in the grounds of the Vatican, and will be known as Roman pontiff emeritus or pope emeritus.

A girl stands with a candle in St Peter's Square as prayers are said for Pope Benedict XVI in the moments before he ceased to be Pontiff at 20:00 CET on February 28, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He will stay at the Papal Summer residence of Castel Gandolfo until renovations are complete at a monastery in the grounds of the Vatican, and will be known as Roman pontiff emeritus or pope emeritus.

Pope Benedict XVI Steps Down And Officially Retires From The Papal Office

Franco Origlia

Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims, for the last time as head of the Catholic Church, from the window of Castel Gandolfo where he will start his retirement today on February 28, 2013 in Rome, Italy. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He will stay at the Papal Summer residence of Castel Gandolfo until renovations are complete at a monastery in the grounds of the Vatican and will be known as Roman Pope Emeritus.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims, for the last time as head of the Catholic Church, from the window of Castel Gandolfo where he will start his retirement today on February 28, 2013 in Rome, Italy. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He will stay at the Papal Summer residence of Castel Gandolfo until renovations are complete at a monastery in the grounds of the Vatican and will be known as Roman Pope Emeritus.

Pope Benedict XVI Steps Down And Officially Retires From The Papal Office

Christopher Furlong

A nun waves her handkerchief as she waits for Pope Benedict XVI to address pilgrims, for the last time as head of the Catholic Church, from the window of Castel Gandolfo where he will start his retirement today on February 28, 2013 in Rome, Italy. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He will stay at the Papal Summer residence of Castel Gandolfo until renovations are complete at a monastery in the grounds of the Vatican and will be known as Roman Pope Emeritus.
Alternate crop of #162841985

A nun waves her handkerchief as she waits for Pope Benedict XVI to address pilgrims, for the last time as head of the Catholic Church, from the window of Castel Gandolfo where he will start his retirement today on February 28, 2013 in Rome, Italy. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He will stay at the Papal Summer residence of Castel Gandolfo until renovations are complete at a monastery in the grounds of the Vatican and will be known as Roman Pope Emeritus.
Alternate crop of #162841985

Pope Benedict XVI Steps Down And Officially Retires From The Papal Office

Oli Scarff

A nun becomes emotional as Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims, for the last time as head of the Catholic Church, from the window of Castel Gandolfo where he will start his retirement today on February 28, 2013 in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He will stay at the Papal Summer residence of Castel Gandolfo until renovations are complete at a monastery in the grounds of the Vatican and will be known as Emeritus Pope.

A nun becomes emotional as Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims, for the last time as head of the Catholic Church, from the window of Castel Gandolfo where he will start his retirement today on February 28, 2013 in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He will stay at the Papal Summer residence of Castel Gandolfo until renovations are complete at a monastery in the grounds of the Vatican and will be known as Emeritus Pope.

Pope Benedict XVI Steps Down And Officially Retires From The Papal Office

Christopher Furlong

Pope Benedict XVI walks away for the last time as head of the Catholic Church, from the window of Castel Gandolfo where he will start his retirement today on February 28, 2013 in Rome, Italy. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He will stay at the Papal Summer residence of Castel Gandolfo until renovations are complete at a monastery in the grounds of the Vatican and will be known as Roman Pope Emeritus.

Pope Benedict XVI walks away for the last time as head of the Catholic Church, from the window of Castel Gandolfo where he will start his retirement today on February 28, 2013 in Rome, Italy. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He will stay at the Papal Summer residence of Castel Gandolfo until renovations are complete at a monastery in the grounds of the Vatican and will be known as Roman Pope Emeritus.

Pope Benedict XVI Steps Down And Officially Retires From The Papal Office

Giorgio Cosulich

People crowd the gallery on top of St Peter's Basilica as a helicopter carrying Pope Benedict XVI passes by on its way out of Vatican City on February 28, 2013 in Rome, Italy. The Pontiff is flying to Castel Gandolfo where he will cease to be Pope at 8:00pm local time. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He will stay at the Papal Summer residence of Castel Gandolfo until renovations are complete at a monastery in the grounds of the Vatican and will be known as Roman pontiff emeritus or pope emeritus.

People crowd the gallery on top of St Peter's Basilica as a helicopter carrying Pope Benedict XVI passes by on its way out of Vatican City on February 28, 2013 in Rome, Italy. The Pontiff is flying to Castel Gandolfo where he will cease to be Pope at 8:00pm local time. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He will stay at the Papal Summer residence of Castel Gandolfo until renovations are complete at a monastery in the grounds of the Vatican and will be known as Roman pontiff emeritus or pope emeritus.

Frankfurter Allgemeine To Buy Frankfurter Rundschau

Thomas Lohnes

An embloye leaves the News Room of the Frankfurter Rundschau on February 28, 2013 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The Frankfurter Rundschau has been bought by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung after the Federal Cartel Office in Bonn allowed the acquisition on Wednesday afternoon.

An embloye leaves the News Room of the Frankfurter Rundschau on February 28, 2013 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The Frankfurter Rundschau has been bought by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung after the Federal Cartel Office in Bonn allowed the acquisition on Wednesday afternoon.

Soldiers From The 1st Battalion The Scots Guards Homecoming

Ian Forsyth

Soldiers from Headquarters Company 1st Battalion The Scots Guards return to their base at Bourlon Barracks and are reunited with their families following their recent deployment to Afghanistan on February 27, 2013 in Catterick, England. The soldiers are the first troops from 4 Mechanized Brigade to return to their base from their tour of duty in Afghanistan where they were responsible for the training and mentoring of the Afghan national security forces.

Soldiers from Headquarters Company 1st Battalion The Scots Guards return to their base at Bourlon Barracks and are reunited with their families following their recent deployment to Afghanistan on February 27, 2013 in Catterick, England. The soldiers are the first troops from 4 Mechanized Brigade to return to their base from their tour of duty in Afghanistan where they were responsible for the training and mentoring of the Afghan national security forces.

Keywords

A child sits under The Colonnade on February 26, 2013 in Vatican... News PhotoBestpix,Child,International Landmark,Religion,Sitting,Spirituality,State of the Vatican City,Topix,Vatican,VerticalPhotographer Peter MacdiarmidCollection: Getty Images News 2013 Getty ImagesVATICAN CITY, VATICAN - FEBRUARY 26: A child sits under The Colonnade on February 26, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff will hold his last weekly public audience on February 27, 2013 before he retires the following day. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)